U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned the brutal killing of Indian national Chandra Nagamallaiah in Texas, pledging justice and holding undocumented immigration policies responsible for the crime.

The 41-year-old Dallas resident was fatally attacked on September 10 by Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented immigrant from Cuba. Authorities said Nagamallaiah was decapitated in front of his wife and son at a motel. Disturbing videos showed Martinez chasing the victim with a machete before beheading him and placing the severed head in a dumpster. Martinez has been arrested and charged with capital murder.

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump expressed outrage, calling Nagamallaiah a “well-respected person” and vowing the accused would face first-degree murder charges. He criticized the Biden administration for previously releasing Martinez despite his record of child sex abuse, grand theft auto, and false imprisonment. “The time for being soft on these illegal immigrant criminals is OVER under my watch!” Trump wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Martinez had been in ICE custody at the Bluebonnet Detention Center until January 13, 2025, when he was released under an order of supervision. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughli said the murder was “completely preventable” and accused the Biden administration of endangering communities by allowing such releases.

The killing has shocked the Indian-American community, with many calling for stricter immigration enforcement and expedited justice. Nagamallaiah’s family is receiving support from local organizations and Indian consular officials.

As outrage grows, Trump has vowed “prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” signaling that immigration and public safety will remain at the forefront of U.S. political debate.